Jesus Only: Part OneНамуна

Week 3, Day 6 - Friday

With so many options to turn to for spirituality, peace, security, and fulfillment, at times, it can be tempting to try and supplement our faith in Jesus. I know I can be guilty of it myself when I start to fall back into old ways of thinking or performing to prove myself worthy of love and be accepted by God. It’s moments like these where I need to pause and remember where my true source of hope and salvation is found.

If you’re anything like me, then I have a message of hope for you today, because we’re in great company. Paul, who was once known as “Saul the rule-abiding Pharisee” shared his perspective, 

"We put no confidence in human effort, though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demanded the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith" (Phil. 3:3-9) 

The message of hope he declared from a prison cell is for us today; It’s all about Jesus! We no longer need to grasp, climb, strive, or clean up our act to be acceptable to God. Jesus made peace between God and us through what He accomplished on the cross. And if we believe and receive this free gift, through Him, we can become all God intended for our lives.

Reflection Questions: 

What are you currently doing in an effort to gain God’s acceptance? How are you trying to prove yourself to Him and others?

What would it mean for you to consider everything else worthless when compared with the infinite value of really knowing Christ Jesus, our Lord? 

Prayer:

Father, thank You for sending Your son Jesus into this world so that I could be in right relationship with You. I receive Your grace that makes me worthy and pray that You will continue to transform me from the inside out so that I can take hold of the life that is truly life. Amen.